Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-24
TIE scHooL.BooK QUESTION.
The Employees of the State Bindery
Welt the GoFernOr.

Y
The Employees of the State Bindery
Visit the Gosernor.
Considerable windy and sensational talk
has been INDUCED in regarding the advisa-
bility of printing large stock OF State
school textbooks, and many glaring errors
and Misrepresentation of facts are furn-
ished to, and made by, certain of the press,
which publish the same regardless OF the
truth, and with apparent endeavor to cram
misstatements down the readers throat,
by abusing and assailing people who do
not adopt their mendacious methods. 10
misrepresent and be sensational, in the
opinion of such, is the chief attainment III
journalistic enterprise.
These sensational journalistic influences
do not for moment stop to consider that
their readers will ascertain the exact facts,
win consult authentic statements, and
sooner or later arrive at a proper estimate
OF the value of such publications. The
text book question is to-day where 1t was
yesterday, and its status just the same as
that given in these columns yesterday,
The cause of all the present hue and cry
against the State Superintendent and other
officials is simply owing TO the fact that
the work ordered by the State Board of
Education being completed, large num-
Der of laborers in the State book bindery
are thrown out of employment.
Yesterday over one hundred OF those
who have been engaged in the bindery,
eighty-five of whom were young women,
formed in line at the Safe printing Office
and marched in body TO the office of the
State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A gentleman by the name of NJ. G. Carey
acted as spokesman, and said the employees
of the State blndery desired to know some
thing about the compilation OF the State
school series of textbooks and the reasons
why the work had been stopped, and also
desired to ask the Superintendent to give
orders 10 the State Superintendent to go on
with the work.
THE SUPERINTENDENT STATEMENT.
Mr. HoItt stated to the delegation that he
was but one of the four members of the
State Board, and as their executive officer
could do only what he was directed to do.
He was ready to direct the manufacture of
the covers for 10000 arithmetics, awaiting
the action IF the State Board to increase
the amount, but the Governor thought it
wiser to wait until Mr. Allen, of the Board,
could be consulted. 1t was expected that
Mr. Allen would be here on his way
through the city on the 9th. He further
stated that careful estimate of the num-
Der of books of different grades needed for
full years supply from the time they be-
gan to be used in the different counties had
been made by the old Board, and they had
been ordered by that Board to be manu-
featured. That supply consisted of $4,000
first readers, $4,000 second readers, $4,000
third readers, and 10000 spoilers The
spoilers are not designed to be used below
the fourth grade in the schools
One intelligent looking young lady in the
delegation stated that she had been in
formed that there $4,000 children in the
schools of San Francisco alone, and that
the number increased annually. She was
shown the report of the City Superin-
tendent of Schools of San Francisco, Civ
ing 43, 265 as the total number enrolled in
1885, and 43, 40 as the total number in 1856.
The spokesman of the delegation pleaded
that there was about $4,000 available for
textbook printing, and if the State
Board would give an order for
manufacturing 10000 first readers and
10000 spoilers they would with
10000 arithmetics, keep the bindery
running till July 1st Mr.. Hoitt replied
that when that was over they would be
coming back for more work, and stated
that it was utterly impossible to keep the
machinery running full-handed to supply
this State alone. 1t would supply four
populations equal to ours. He further
assured the delegation that he had worked
with the outmost activity in the Legislature
to secure appropriations for making four
new books, which would furnish work for
more people, and that he had secured the
creation of a separate fund to be set apart
as sacred to this work. so that it would
never be left to the caprice or neglect of
any Legislature.
For this the spokesman thanked him.
but said they wanted more. They wished |
him to promise definitely that he would |
use his influence with the Board to have |
their request for the manufacture of addi- |
tional editions complied with Immediately. |
This, Mr.. Hoitt said, was not proper for |
him TO do. He could only say that he |
would exercise the utmost vigilance and |
energy to keep the people at all times sup |
piled with books of the State series, and |
would prosecute all unfinished work TO |
as fast as it was possible to do |
it. The delegation then left to call upon |
the Governor, who is member of the |
Board.
Governor Bartlett had Just returned from |
San Francisco, was crowded with work, |
and in his enfeebled condition begged 10 |
be excused from long interview. After |
hearing their request which was the same |
as that made to the State Superintendent, i
he made a similar reply to that of Mr.. |
Hoitt He said the members of the Board |
would be here in a few days, when the |
matter would receive the fullest consider |
alton.
Below are given the counties of the State |
whoee contracts for readers have expired, |
so far as the reporter could learn. Itshould |
be borne in mind that these contracts ex- |
pired in 1884, and have not been renewed. |
1t has been stated that counties would be |
forced into making contracts for four years |
if not supplied. 1t will be seen that in
these counties there have been no contracts !
for more than two years, and it has been |
decided over and over again by the State |
and Attorney General that |
the adoption of the Perry amendment took |
from County Boards all power to make |
contracts, and no contract has been made |
since that time.
The following is the list of counties and |
the total number of children attending the |
public schools in each during the year 1856 : |
Colusa. 2,sO2
Fresno. o,oZl |
laSSe ~